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This article is about the geography of internationally recognized Moroccan territory. For the Geography of the Southern Provinces, see Geography of Western Sahara.
Location of Morocco
True-color image of Morocco from Terra spacecraft
Topography of Morocco
Morocco's and Western Sahara's cities and main towns

Morocco spans from the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean on the north and the west respectively, into large mountainous areas in the interior body, to the Sahara desert in the far south. Morocco is a Northern African country, located in the extreme north west of Africa on the doors of continental Europe. The strait of Gibraltar separates Spain off Morocco with a 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) span of water. Morocco borders the North Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the west Mediterranean Sea to the north.

The terrain of Morocco is largely mountainous. The Atlas Mountains stretch from the central north to the south west. It expands to about 1,350 kilometres (840 mi) and is the dorsal spine of the country. To the north of the Atlas Mountains, there are the Rif Mountains, a chain that makes part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Andalusia, Spain. The massive range expands to about 250 kilometres (160 mi) from Tangier in the west to Nador eastward.

In the west of the country, along the Atlantic coast, the Moroccan Plateau stretches from Tangier to Agadir, about 800 kilometres (500 mi) long, and get inward to Saiss Plains near Fes and Tansift-Alhaouz near Marrakech. These vast plains promotes fertile agricultural lands and support 15% of the local economy.

In the extreme South-East of the country, the lands are arid, due to their proximity to the Sahara desert of Algeria. Palm trees oasis are developed in many regions, notably in Figuig and Zagora.

Coordinates: 32°00′N 5°00′W

Map references: Africa

Area – comparative: Morocco without Western Sahara is slightly larger than California; slightly larger than Newfoundland and Labrador; slightly more than half the size of New South Wales province of Australia; slightly less than twice the size of the United Kingdom

Morocco's climate can be divided into two parts: The northwest and the southeast. In the southeast, the climate is arid, and poorly populated. In the northwest the climate is temperate and akin to the climatic conditions that prevail in the Iberian Peninsula. 95% of Moroccan population lives in these regions.

The largely populated areas of the northwest of the country is predominantly Mediterranean, but since the country is heavily mountainous, continental and alpine influence is evident, as well as the oceanic influence along the Atlantic coastline. And finally, the semi-arid lands, that cover few regions in the northeast, the central south and the southwest.

Along the Mediterranean coast, the climate is typically Mediterranean and supports all types of typical Mediterranean vegetation. The summers are moderately hot and the winters are mild. Further away from the coast, into the Rif Mountain range, the climate starts to become more continental in character, with colder winters and hotter summers. At elevations above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), the climate is alpine with warm summers and cold winters. Rainfall is much higher on the west side, than it is on the east side. The average annual precipitation is between 600 and 1,500 mm (24 and 59 in), and 300 and 700 mm (12 and 28 in) respectively. Snow is abundant at higher elevations.

Along the Atlantic coast, the climate is Mediterranean with an oceanic influence. The imprint of the oceanic climate differs along the coastline from region to region. It is generally presented from Asilah to Essaouira. The summers are warm to moderately hot, and winters are cooler than in the Mediterranean coast. Further away from the coastal lands, into the Atlas Mountain range, the climate starts to become more continental in character, with colder winters and hotter summers. At elevations above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), the climate is typically alpine, with warm summers and cold winters. Rainfall is generally high. The average annual precipitations is between 500 and 1,800 mm (20 and 71 in) on the north, but as you move southward, the average drops by about 100 to 200 mm (3.9 to 7.9 in). Snow is abundant at higher elevations. There are two ski stations, one in the middle-Atlas Mischliffen, and the other in the High-Atlas Oukaïmeden.

The southern regions of the northwest are Semi-arid influenced. Rainfall is lower, and is between 250 and 350 mm (9.8 and 13.8 in) annually. Although temperature ranges generally do not change in comparison with the upper provinces, a slight increase in high averages is not to be dismissed. Largely due to the lower latitudes where they fall.

Typical cities with such climate are Agadir and Marrakesh.

The disputed Western Sahara region features a hot desert climate, but temperatures are more moderate along the coast.
Physical geography
Anti-Atlas mountain range

Terrain: Northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

This is a list of the extreme points of Morocco, the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location (excluding the disputed Western Sahara area).

Northernmost point – Punta Cires, Tangier-Tétouan region
Easternmost point – unnamed point on the border with Algeria immediately east of the town of Iche, Oriental region
Southernmost point – the border with Western Sahara, Guelmim-Es Semara region*
Westernmost point – the point at which the border with Western Sahara enters the Atlantic Ocean, Guelmim-Es Semara region
Note: Morocco does not have a southern-most point, the border being formed by a straight horizontal line

See also

Climate of Morocco

References

CIA Factbook: Morocco

External links

Wikimedia Atlas of Morocco

European Digital Archive on the Soil Maps of the world Soil Maps of Morocco

MOUNTAINS & DESERTS OF MOROCCO

BRAHIM ELBAHRAOUI
QUALIFIED TOURIST GUIDE SINCE 2003.

BORN AND GREW UP IN THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS .

FROM ZAWYAT OULMZI VILLAGE ,AIT BOUGMMEZ VALLEY .

If you are looking for trekking & hiking; Morocco is a superb destination.
Morocco is the most exotic country of Northern Africa. When you visit you will be impressed by the royal cities with their labyrinths of markets and mud brick streets where the African, Arab and European cultures are mixed into a colorful unity. Marrakech, Fes and Meknes are among the most oriental cities of the world, only rivaled by cities like Cairo and Damascus. The souks (markets) are sheer treasuries full of craft, pottery, woodwork, tapestry and heavy silver jewelry. You can also find aromatic spices and sweet perfumes and secret treasures which traditionally have been transported from black Africa by means of the camel caravans from Timbuktu. Islam is Morocco’s religion and five times per day the air is charged with the calls to prayer, the sign to bow to the will of the almighty Allah.

But Morocco offers much, much more. With its 3500 km of coastline unspoiled beaches abound. One third of the country is mountainous terrain with peaks above 4000 meters. In these areas you can ski in winter and trek in summer. If you go on foot or by landrover into the remote areas of the Atlas Mountains, you will come to Berber villages where mules and donkeys are the main means of transportation and life is simple and hard.

There is also the Sahara. East and south of the High Atlas Mountains the vast expanses of the desert unfold and life retreats to the sparse areas where water can be found. Springs and rivers provide the water that seeps out of the mighty mountains in the north. By sheer human effort lush oases have been created with the splendor of date palms and other fruit trees which provide protection against a merciless sun and produce an abundance of vegetables all year round. Here people live in Kasbahs, mud brick castles with walls up to a meter thick. Every village is a fortress, some of them housing thousands of people. On the vast dusty plains the last nomads live in traditional goat hair tents surrounded by their herds of goats, sheep and camels. Especially in the oases many people are black. These are the descendants of people from Mali , Senegal and the Sudan who once crossed the great desert as traders or slaves.

The most important cultural divide in Morocco is the one between the cities and the rural areas. It is the divide between Arabs and Berbers, learning and simplicity, wealth and poverty. In the royal cities a culture of over a thousand years of Islamic architecture and scholarship frames the minds of the inhabitants. In the city exquisite carpets are woven, Islamic texts are calligraphied and golden jewellery of the utmost refinement is produced. The rural population weaves beautiful but crude kelims, forges rough silver ornaments and lives a life full of superstition and local beliefs rivaling the influence of Islam. In order to understand Morocco , you should experience both cities and villages.

Moroccans are intense people with a tendency to isolate themselves from the world at large. Thousands of years of extreme climate and the reign of ruthless warriors and sultans have taught them to mistrust everything outside the thick walls of their houses. Foreigners are viewed with a touch of suspicion and it takes time and effort to get to the hearts of these people. But once they open their houses to you, a great hospitality is offered which is second to none in the world. It takes time to get under Morocco’s skin, but once that happens it will get under your skin and Morocco will become a very special experience indeed.

Climate
Morocco has a varied climate with three distinct climate zones: coastal regions; interior mountains and plateau; southern desert regions on the fringe of the Sahara .

Coastal regions have warm dry summers, with some rain the rest of the year. Winters are generally mild. The northern coast of Morocco has a Mediterranean climate, but rainfall can be heavy in winter. The coast is drier to the south of Rabat . Agadir has a narrow range of temperatures making it pleasant most of the year. Cold offshore currents cause some cloud and fog on the Atlantic Coast in summer.

The mountains experience hot, dry summers and harsh winters. Many parts of the High Atlas are under snow well into summer. At lower levels summers are hot, with low humidity. Winters are generally mild and sunny but winds from the mountains can cause chilly days.

The desert regions of the country have a dry climate, getting hotter and drier in summer to the south, but moderated by the sea to the west. The inland Sahara regions have very dry, hot summers that give way to warm sunny days and cold nights in winter.